Selective proliferation of brain kappa opiate receptors in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The binding of tritiated ligands for various opiate receptor subtypes to brain membranes prepared from spontaneously hypertensive rats and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats was determined. The density (Bmax) or the apparent dissociation constant (Kd) for the binding of the mu-ligand (naltrexone) and delta-ligand (Tyr-D-Ser-Gly-Phe-Leu-Thr) to brain membranes of hypertensive and normotensive rats did not differ. However, the Bmax for the binding of kappa-ligand (ethylketocyclazocine, EKC) to brain membranes after the suppression of mu and delta-sites by 100 nM each of unlabeled D-Ala2-MePhe4-Gly-ol5-enkephalin and D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin, respectively, was significantly greater in hypertensive rats compared to normotensive rats. The Kd values for the binding of 3H-EKC in the two groups did not differ. The binding of 3H-EKC in brain regions was in the order: hypothalamus greater than midbrain greater than striatum greater than cortex greater than pons + medulla. The increase in the binding of 3H-EKC in the brain of hypertensive rats compared to normotensive rats was due to increased binding in the hypothalamus and cortex. These results provide for the first time evidence of selective proliferation of kappa-opiate receptors in the brain of hypertensive rats, and suggest that brain kappa-opiate receptors may play an important role in the pathophysiology of hypertension.